WHITTIER – Early election results Tuesday showed longtime incumbent Fred Schambeck leading three other candidates in one of the races for two open seats on the Lowell Joint School District board of trustees.

Results were reported by registrar-recorder’s offices in both Los Angeles and Orange counties because the district includes parts of both counties.

In Los Angeles County, absentee vote results showed Schambeck and fellow incumbent Gene N. Dunford leading challengers William Hinz and James Najera.

Schambeck was also on top in early Orange County results – however, Najera was leading fellow challenger Hinz and Dunford.

This was the first time in 14 years that Lowell Joint had seen a contested school board election. That was part of the reason that Hinz, 59, and Najera, 50, said they decided to run, saying that the panel needed some fresh ideas.

Schambeck, 65, and Dunford, 43, said they offered leadership and experience and cited the district’s high test scores.

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